A review by tjack22
All Systems Red by Martha Wells

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

"All Systems Red" by Martha Wells offers a fresh and unique twist on this the science fiction genre, reminiscent of the vibes from "Red Rising" and "The Martian." This novella introduces us to the intriguing world of the Murderbot series, featuring a self-aware, security android protagonist. The narrative also echoes the intense, tech-driven elements of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," particularly through its exploration of computer hacking. While the story is compelling, its brevity left me wishing for more—fortunately, it's the first of several installments. Each book in the series continues to explore complex themes in bite-sized, engaging packages. For fans of science fiction looking for innovative narratives and richly crafted worlds, Martha Wells' work promises excitement and introspection, with plenty more to discover in the subsequent books.